Video: Horror truck crash kills 22 in South Africa

Pinetown
-
While the death toll could possibly still rise, an estimated 22 people were killed in a horrific accident on the M13 highway in Durban, South Africa. The accident was captured on a vehicle's dashboard camera.

Please note that the above video contains content that could upset some viewers.

The carnage was caused as the truck crashed into four minibus taxis and a car in Fields Hill, Pinetown on Thursday. It is believed that the truck crashed into the vehicles when its brakes failed.

"He has been charged with culpable homicide, and reckless and negligent driving," Colonel Vincent Mdunge told AllAfrica.com. "The details of the accident are still being investigated, so we cannot draw any conclusions at this stage."

According to Netcare911 spokesman, Chris Botha, the initial figure was estimated at 27, but has since decreased to 22. Botha told the media that 19 people died on the scene of the accident and a further three died in hospital.

While at the scene of the accident on Thursday, Botha said:

"[It's] a total disaster here. [A] heavy-goods truck came down through Fields Hill and collided with two cars on the M13 and then four taxis and another car."

"All people have been stabilized on scene and taken to hospitals around Durban."

Rescue officers used the jaws of life to free some passengers and also bodies from the wreckage.

In the meantime, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has ordered a high-level investigation into the crash.

Peters extended her condolences to the families and friends of those who died and wished the survivors "a speedy recovery, strength and resilience."

On Friday the owner of the truck told the media that he did not sleep after details of the carnage emerged.

Gregory Govender, owner of the Phoenix-based Sagekal Logistics, said it was still unclear what had happened.

Govender said: “We don’t know what happened, we have not been able to speak to the driver.”

The police phoned him to inform him that the driver had been arrested.

“They said they were taking him to the Pinetown police station but did not allow me to talk to him.”

He told the media that it was the first time any of his trucks had been involved in a crash.

“It is not unusual for our drivers to use Field’s Hill, other truckers do as well. We will have to wait for the investigation to find out what happened.”

Field's Hill, where the accident occurred, is apparently a dangerous stretch of road and in the video below a paramedic speaks about the dangers and the controversy that surrounds trucks using the road: